The Yale Health Plan (YHP) is celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October by offering programs emphasizing that "early detection is the best protection."
Offerings include talks on the genetics of breast cancer and how patients can get the support and information they need from their health providers. In addition, nurse midwives will conduct breast exams on a walk-in basis.
The following is a schedule of events. All events take place at the University Health Services Center, 17 Hillhouse Ave.
Monday, Oct. 19 -- 2-4 p.m. Certified nurse midwives will conduct walk-in breast exams, as well as present hands-on and video instruction on how to conduct breast self-exams, in Rm. 405.
Tuesday, Oct. 20 -- noon. Ellen Matloff, director of cancer genetic counseling at the Yale Cancer Center will present a talk titled "Does Breast Cancer Run in My Family?" in Rm. 405. Participants may bring their own lunch; refreshments will be provided.
Wednesday, Oct. 21 -- 2:30 p.m. Dr. Carol Lee, associate professor of diagnostic radiology, will give a talk titled "Beyond Mammograms: New Breast Imaging Techniques" in Rm. 405. Refreshments will be provided.
Thursday, Oct. 22 -- 4 p.m. Yale Health Plan nurse practitioner Molly Meyer, who is a recent recipient of the American Cancer Society's Lane Adams award for outstanding work in cancer nursing, will talk on "The Role of the Oncology Nurse, and Getting What You Need from Your Provider" in Rm. 464.
Friday, Oct. 23 -- 10 a.m.-noon. Certified nurse midwives will conduct walk-in breast exams, as well as present hands-on and video instruction on how to do breast self-exams, in Rm. 405.
All events are free, but reservations are required so that departments can plan on attendance. For reservations, call Lorraine Skibiteky at 432-8391.
In addition to these programs, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is being celebrated with a special event honoring the new breast cancer research postal stamp, sponsored jointly by the Yale Cancer Center and the U.S. Postal Service. For further information about this event, see story above.